Kukla's Korner Hockey

Below are some comments from Roman Hamrlik talking about his situation in Montreal, specifically his relationship with Pasquale Mangiola (more on the background available here). Hamrlik was apparently concerned about how his situation has been reported in the Czech press, so the Canadiens gave him permission to speak to one media outlet in his home country.

Here’s the link to the original Czech (including video), but below is the English translation of a segment, provided by a friend of KK who regularly translates material for us.

Canadiens players are not allowed to talk about this to media but Hamrlik was given permission to speak to one Czech TV station and he has chosen TV NOVA.

Lets start with what Hamrlik is saying [about Pasquale Mangiola]:

“When you come to a new city, you don’t know where to go after the games. Sometimes we went for a dinner and that was everything. I provided him with some tickets for hockey games. I didn’t know he was doing some bad things, I didn’t know he has something in common with a, b, c, or d. Drugs or guns or whatever he did. I didn’t know he was involved in this. I didn’t meet this guy this season because I have already known he talks too much about hockey players and he draws attention to himself that he knows us. I didn’t meet him this season. I think this is really big lesson for my next life.”

Important Note: Any errors in this translation are ours, and should not be attributed to anyone else. But it is our belief this is an accurate translation.

added 2/27/09, Here is a little more thorough translation of the video found at TV Nova…

I provided him with some tickets for hockey games. I didn’t know he was doing some bad things. Where do I know him from? One hockey player introduced us but I wont tell his name. This man used me a little bit, he took pride in knowing me and other players. I think it is difficult to find the right friend here in Montreal - everyone loves you just because you are hockey player, because you play in NHL and because you have money. They dont like you because of who you really are and what kind of person you are. I didn’t know he has something in common with a, b, c, or d. Drugs or guns or whatever he did. I didn’t know he was involved in this. It is sad what happened here but life goes on and nobody is perfect. I know I made mistake that I was somewhere with him but I didn’t meet this guy this season because I have already known he talks too much about hockey players and he draws attention to himself that he knows us. I didn’t meet him this season. I think this is really big lesson for my next life. Every day we learn something new and all of this is unpleasant because of what has been written about me. Nobody knows the truth, just me. I made quite good hockey career during all those years and now it is not good for my name, for my family and especially for my daughter. She doesnt deserve to read those absurdities about her daddy. I am really sorry there are lies in Czech newspapers. When you come to a new city, you don’t know where to go after the games. Sometimes we went for a dinner and that was everything.

The City of Glendale has been quietly bailing out the money-losing Phoenix Coyotes for several months, according to documents obtained by 12 News.

A record of lease payments by the Coyotes shows the city has been letting the team play virtually rent-free at Jobing.com Arena for seven months. Based on past payments, the break could be worth up to $4 million over the course of a year.

The city is giving the team the multimillion-dollar break even as it tries to plug a multimillion-dollar hole in its own budget.

One last point on Kovalev, though. Here’s what one GM told me Monday: “You can’t trade Alex Kovalev, pure and simple. The East is wide open. With all due respect to Boston and Washington, all eight teams that make it in the East have almost an equal shot at making it to the Cup finals. That’s why you can’t trade Kovalev. You won’t be able to replace him for these playoffs.”

John Tortorella met with the media for 25 minutes, a good give-and-take session. One of the things he mentioned as a positive in coming back to New York was he knows he’s going to get criticized, he knows there will be boos. And he likes the passion for hockey that shows from both Rangers fans and media.

One immediate change. Us media types were told in no uncertain terms by trainer Jim Ramsey to stay the %#(&^$ off the logo in the dressing room.

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has activated forward Paul Stastny from the Injured Reserve list. He is expected to be in the lineup for tonight’s game in Atlanta against the Thrashers (5:00 p.m. MT, Altitude TV).

Stastny has missed the last 26 games after suffering a broken forearm while blocking a shot against Phoenix on Dec. 23 at Pepsi Center. He underwent surgery on Dec. 30. The 23-year-old center was leading the Avalanche in scoring at the time of his injury with 31 points (10g/21a) in 34 games.

Hello from the ATL, where the Avalanche was supposed to go through its normal paces this morning with a skate-around at the Philips Arena. But there will be no morning skate today.

That’s because the ice is not fit for skating. Ther circus was in town recently, at Philips, and has rendered ice conditions unfit. Despite being told by Thrashers personnel that the ice would be ready by this morning, it was not.

NEW YORK – The NHL Network will offer a free preview to more than 34 million subscribers of multiple distributors in the United States, such as DIRECTV, DISH Network®, AT&T U-verse, Verizon, Cox Communications, Grande Communications and TVMAX, beginning Monday, March 2 through Saturday, March 7.

As the definitive hockey destination, NHL Network offers viewers a 24-hour all-access pass to complete hockey coverage both on and off the ice, including live NHL games, robust game highlights packages and expert analysis. As a portion of this six-day free-preview period, viewers will be able to watch 52 hours of HD hockey programming including five live games, special Trade Deadline day coverage and 10 premieres of exclusive original NHL Network™ programming.

FRISCO, Tex. – The Dallas Stars announced today that the club placed center Toby Petersen on Injured Reserve with a broken bone in his left foot, suffered during Monday’s game vs. San Jose. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks. The club has also recalled goaltender Tobias Stephan from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Petersen, 30, has appeared in 57 games for Dallas this season, recording four goals and seven assists with 14 penalty minutes. He had a career-high five-game point streak (3-2-5) from Nov. 30 – Dec. 10.